Improvement in surf-huts for bathing purposes



Patented Sept. 30,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. HOMER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN SURF-HUTS FOR BATHING PURPOSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,147, datedSeptember 30, 1879 application filed September 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs S. HOMER, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Movable Huts or Gompartments for the Use of Bathers, which I call aSurf-Hut, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient, safe, andcomfortable compartment, easily movable from place to place, and adaptedto be pushed by an attendant into the water.

In the drawings hereunto attached, Figure 1 is a perspective view, andFig. 2 a central cross-section, of my improved hut.

The body of the structure is represented at A. The frame-work may bemade of any suitable material, and may be covered with cloth, or in anyother manner adapted to the purpose.

The frame-work should be made strong, and should be put together in sucha manner that it may be taken apart for storage during the season whenit is not in use.

The body of the but is mounted upon wheels W, of a height sufficient toallow the structure to be moved into a suitable depth of water withoutsubjecting the but to a wetting from the surf.

The covering of the but is adapted to be raised upon the sides for thepurpose of ventilation, and should be also fitted to open at the front,as shown at a, for ingress and egress.

The front of the structure is provided with a hood, L, which I prefer tomake in the form shown in Fig. 1, and which may be lowered at pleasure.The hood projects outward and downward a sufficient distance to alloweasy access to the hut, and at the same time to screen the occupant ashe descends the steps to go into the-water. For this purpose it is made,as will be observed in the drawings, to extend downward, so as tooverhang the steps, as wellas to cover the end of the hut.

Steps or platforms are provided in front, as shown more clearly in Fig.1.

An inclined metal bar, 0, is fixed to the bottom portion of the but andinclined outward at a suitable angle, and resting upon the ground on alevel with the periphery of the wheels. This bar 0 may be madecontinuous, as represented at Fig. 1, being bent atmm, the part between00 00 serving as the lower crossbar.

The step b is supported upon one edge on the inclined bar 0 and upon theouter edge by an arch, B. This step is adapted to serve as a seat forthe occupant while bathing. Above this seat is another and wider seat,d, which is supported at the outer edge by an arch, B, and by a bar, 0,while its inner edge extends to the axle of the wheels, to which it issecured. This forms a broad landing, and is adapted to receive the wetgarments when cast off by the bather. The third step is a part of thelanding or floor F, which is to be above the surf, and is kept dry fordressing.

The hut is provided with shafts M, by which it may be pushed forwardinto the surf. The bars 0 at the forward ends serve as braces on oneside to anchor the hut in place when it has been pushed forward into thesurf. Another anchor, D, is hinged to the shafts at e, and braced by thebar H in such a. manner that it may be swung up out of the way when thehut is moving. When it is lowered to a vertical position it rests firmlyupon the bottom, and, in connection with the bar 0 of the steps, itsupports, in part, the weight of the structure. For this purpose theanchor or brace D should be made of a length sufficient to lift, inconnection with the bar 0, and take a part of the weight from thewheels. By this the but is supported firmly on the bottom, and is notliable to be forced backward, as it would be if it rested on the wheelsalone.

For greater security a second anchor, E, may be hinged to the axle andbe suspended by a rope, It, so that it may belowered into position tosecurely brace the but from the The steps and the bottom or floor of thehut may be made of planks, and the floor may be covered with oil-cloth,or anyother suitable material.

I may prefer to make the steps of strips, which will permit the water toflow readily through.

The interior of the hutis provided with a seat, and may be fitted upwith such conveniences as hooks for suspending the clothing,

pockets to contain brushes and other necessary articles, and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Asurf-hut mounted upon wheels, provided with steps infront,'extending down to or near the ground, in combination with a hoodat tached to the front and overhanging the steps, as set forth.

2. The combination of the bar C, the step b, and the step or seat (I,the latter bein gsupported upon the inner edge upon the axle, as and forthe purpose set forth.

3, In combination with a surf-hut, the steps extending downward, asdescribed, in combination with the hinged anchor D, as set; forth.

4. In combination with the steps and the anchor 1), the secondaryanchor, E, as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES S. HOMER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. CLARK, GEORGE EVERSON.

